Automaton



April 7, 1953 A. I. NELSON ETAL AUTOMAITON 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1949 AXEL IVA/P NELSON, LEROY W WALLACE,

INVENTORS.

ATmk/VEK April ,1 4 A. l. NELSON ETAL 2,633,651

- AUTOMATON Filed June 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AXEL mm NELSON, LEI-P0) W. WALLACE,

INVENTORS. r

A TTOENEK April 7, 1953 A. l. NELSON ETAL 633,651

AUTQMATON Filed Juhe 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 AXEL -IVAR NELSON, LEROY W. WALLACE,

- INVENTORS.

A. l. NELSON ET AL AUTOMATON Filed June 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AXEL [VAR NELSON,

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 AUTOMATON Axel Ivar Nelson and Le Roy W. Wallace, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,522

The invention relates to an automaton, namely, a self-moving machine which imitates certain motions of men.

In our Patent No. 2,528,968, granted November 7, 1950, for Automaton, we have described and claimed an automaton, particularly suitable for use as an advertising device and wherein a miniature man is provided with a movable head and with movable arms which are driven to simulate the act of cobbling a shoe.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automaton which will simulate th act of pouring a liquid from a bottle or the like held in one hand, into a glass or the like held in the other hand .andto further simulate the lifting of the glass to drink the liquid therein, with the further provision of concealed means for transferring the liquid from the glass to the bottle so that the same liquid may be used for a repetition of the act of drinking. .1

A further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the mechanical features and, in particular, the cam assembly of the above mentioned co-pending application.

Further objects of the invention are to turn the head while simulating the act of drink, to tilt the head in consequence of its being turned, and to empty the contents of a bottle or other container by rotating the wrist in consequence of the arm being raised.

For further details of the invention, reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. l is a side view of an automaton according to the present invention, the full line showing the relative positions of the head and arms at one instant of pouring the liquid from a bottleinto a glass, while the dotted lines represent the relative position of the parts in the drinking position. Y

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the full line showing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 4, 6 and '7 are enlarged sectional views on lines of the corresponding number'in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view with parts broken away, of the cam device for causing tilt movement of the head in consequence of its rotation.

Figs. 8, 11and 12 are sectional views on lines of the corresponding numbers in Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical sectional views on lines of the corresponding numbers in Fig. 11.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the

9 Claims. (Cl. 40-126) automaton l is here illustrated as a man although it could very well be either a woman or a child. The automaton I is here illustrated as being seated on a chair or bench 2 at a table 3 although it could be standing or in some other position.

The automaton I is preferably made of papiermache or the like and is provided with a relatively fixed hollow body 4, a movable hollow head 5, a right arm 6 and left arm I. The right arm from the shoulder to the elbow as indicated at 8 is cast or molded integral with the body 4 while that portion of the'right arm indicated at 9 from the elbow to and including the hand It is movable. The left armportion indicated at H) from the shoulder to a position above the elbow is cast integral with the body 4 while the remaining outer portion ll of the left arm is movable. Fixed in the left hand I2 is a glass l3 and fixed in the right hand I4 is a bottle l5. The right hand I4 is rotatable at a position corresponding to the wrist in order to tilt the bottle I 5 and transfer its liquid contents to the glass 1 3, when the right arm 9 is in an elevated position.

Means are provided for rotating the right hand [4 to tilt the bottle Hi from an upright position when resting onthe table 3 to the tilt elevated position shown in Fig. 2 and in a reverse manner to rotate the bottle l5 from its tilted position to an upright-position as the arm 9 is lowered. Means are also provided for raising the arm II from the table position shown in Fig. 2 to an elevated position shown at dottedlines it in Fig. 1 to a drinking position and, thereafter, to lower the arm H to the table position shown, and in proper sequence with the motion of the arm 9 and the head 5.

Means are also provided for transferring the liquid in the glass l3, through the arm 1, across the inside ofthe body 4 to the arm 9 and into the bottle [5 to restore the fluid therein so that the drinking cycle may be repeated indefinitely. Means are also provided for moving the head 5 from one side to the other and for tilting the head forward and. back to simulate the natural act of drinking.

The movements of the head 5 and arm 9, right hand I4 and arm II are coordinated by means of a cam assembly 29 comprising a right arm cam 2|, a left arm cam 22 and a head cam 23, sandwiched between four metal disks 24 to 21. The cams 2| to 23 and the disks 24 to 2'! are held in one unit by means of a plurality of rivets, three being indicated at 28, 29 and 30. V

.The cam assembly. has a non-circular aperture 3| in which fits the non-circular shaft 32 of a gear train33 driven by an electric motor 34.

As shown in Fig. 3 the motor 34 and gear train 33 are supported from an angular boss 35 inside of the hollow body 4 by means of a bracket and screws indicated at 36 and 31. The gear train 33 has a casing 38.

Supported in spaced relation from the casing 38 is a base 40 having spacers 4|, 42, 43 for bolts like 44 and 45, see Fig. 12. The cam assembly 20 is arranged between the base 40 and the motor 34 and its gear train 33 as shown in Fig. 3.

Laterally projecting from the base 40 is a cam follower guide or bearing 50 in the form of a fiat maton.

metal strip which forms a slide bearing and a stop for the slot in the left arm connecting rod 52, for the slot 53 in the right arm connecting rod 54 and for the slot 55 in the head con necting rod 56, see Figs. 9, and 7.. The con:- necting rods 52, 54, 56 are sheet metal stampings. The bearing 50 thus prevents undue lateral movement of the connecting rods 52, 54 and 56 while guiding them for reciprocating movement either under control of the weight of the part operated thereby or by their respective earns 22, 2| and 23. The connecting rods 52, 54 and 56 are prevented from undue movement lengthwise of the transverse guide 50, as each connecting rod extends between a pair of the disks 24, 25, 26, 21 in the cam assembly 29.

The right arm connecting rod 54 at its upper end has a fork 6D for a ball chain 5 i connected to a crank arm 52 fixed to a shaft 63 rotatably carried by bearings 64 and 65 at the opposite sides of the body 4. The bearings 64, 65 are similar to the bearings |3|, I38 for shaft 81 and each bearing is held in place at the side of body 4 by plaster like I39 and each hearing has an oil wick like I40. Theleft arm connecting rod 52 has a similar fork 4| for a ball chain I42 connected to a crank arm I43 on shaft 81 to raise the left arm Fork 4| also engages a ball chain I44 connected to a fork I45 on the rear end of the rocker bar I62. Chain I44 has slack "6 which is taken up when the left arm is elevated part way as shown in dotted lines at |4.| inFig. 1, so that the head 5 tilts back as the left arm continues to rise from mid-position I41 to a drinking position. It.

The lower end of the right arm. connecting rod 54 terminates in a laterally extending cam follower 66, see Fig. 10, which is acted on by the surface of the cam 2|. The, cam assembly is assumed to rotate in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows adjacent each cam. Cam 2| in rotating clockwise from the position shown, brings a portion 61 of the cam surface of decreasing radius to bear on the cam follower 55 with the result that cam follower 66 will rise due to the weight of the right arm which acts to. rotate the shaft 63 in a direction to pull upon the chain 6|. The cam 69 has an arm or rise having a laterally and forwardly extending face and cam follower 66 has a laterally and upwardly extending face, cam 69 being. slideable off of cam follower 66 as the cam is. rotated to bring'cam fole lower 66 to its lowermost position. The cam surface 6i forms an obstruction of variable width between the guide 50 and the rise or arm of the cam follower E6, to delay the return stroke of the cam follower. The speed of movement of the right arm depends on the slope of the cam 21', For the portion 68 of cam 2| which isof constant radius, the right arm will remain in its lowest position resting on the table 3. When the abrupt increase in radius of the cam, as indicated at 69, acts on the follower 6B, the right arm is elevated,

4. This raising and lowering of the right arm 9 under action of the reciprocating follower 54 is also translated into rotation of the right hand It first in one direction and then the other, as the right arm 9, see Fig. 6, has a pivotal support as indicated at H! on the side of the body 4 and the arm 9 carries a hollow shaft H having fixed thereto a mitre gear 12 having teeth which mesh with a rack 1:3 and securedto the inner right side of, the body as indicated at [4. Fixed to the outer end of shaft H is the right hand M of the auto- Hence, as the arm 9 is raised and lowered, the rack l3 causes the gear l2 to rotate and thereby rotate the hollow shaft H and the wrist and hand 14. The gear 12 is on the opposite side of the pivot 10 from the hand I4 and as arm 9 is elevated, the gear 12 is lowered which causes the gear 7-2 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen from the front of the automaton, to tilt the bottle |5 from an upright position to a tilt position wherein the liquid contents in the bottle l5 will pour into the glass 3 held in the other hand |2. When the arm 9' descends, the gear 12 and rack 13 cause the hand I4 and bottle l5 to have a reverse movement from the tilted posi tion shown in Fig. 2, to an upright position rest: ing on the table 3.

The left arm connecting rod 52 has a cam follower portion which follows the contour'of the cam 22. The cam projection 8| lowers the follower 89 toraise the left arm H to an intermediate elevation where it remains during the constant radius portion 82 of the cam. The relative angular position of the three cams is shown in Figs. .7, 9 and 10 and. it willbe apparent that from about 2 'oclock back to about 10 oclock the constant radius portion 82 of the leftv arm cam is holding the left arm at its intermediatev elevated position while over the same interval on the right arm cam 2|, the right arm is descending to rest the bottle I 5 in. an upright position on the table 3 where it remains during this interval. Further rotation of the cam assembly causes cam projection 83 to fully elevate the left arm H to bring the glass |3 close. to. they mouth 84, and as the lass |3 elevates to this position, the fluid in the glass i3 flows by gravity through the pipe 8.6" in the left arm I, through. hollow shaft 8! which pivotally supports the arm I, through a flexible tube 88, to the hollow shaft H, and back into the bottle Hi. The liquid contents. in the bottle I5 is then again poured into. the glass Hi, to return to the bottle I5 for repeated similar operation as long asthe motor 34. is running.

The. right arm. cam. 21 is a duplicate of the head cam 23, but reversed in position, as it is convenient to use the. same. cam for both items. The right arm can drop no farther than the table permits it to drop and it is of no consequence that a portion. of the surface of the right arm cam 2| is inactive, namely, approximately from '7 oclock forward to 5 o'clock During the time that the right arm -9 and the left arm I] are moving in timed relation with each other, the head. 5 is turning substantially about a vertical axis and also tilting back and forth in timed relation with the movement of the arms 9 to i to simulate the act of drinking. In fact, before arranging the mechanical movements described herein, a study was made of the motions made by an average person in pouring a drink into a glass and drinking the contents thereof and the cycle of movements herein provided very closely simulates the actual move- 5 ments that an average person would make for this purpose.

The top of the body 4 has an enlarged hollow neck I in which is loosely mounted the neck I0l of the head 5. The bottom of the neck IOI has fixed therein a rocking bar I02, see Figs. 3 and 5. The bar I02 has a downwardly extending peak I03 which rests on the flat portion I04 of the cam. I05, to serve as a rocking or tilting support. The bar I02 has a downwardly'extending cam follower lug I06 which is held down by the Weight of the head 5, and guided by a cam groove I01 having a deep vertical portion I06 and shallower end portions I09 and H0. The cam I is cast integral with a horizontal base III which is suitably cemented or otherwise fixed in the base of .the neck I00, see Fig. 4. Cam I05 has a vertical bearing aperture II2 for an oscillating shaft II3 which projects therethrough, its upper end having a pivotal connection I I4 with the rocking bar I02. The lower end of shaft H3 carries a socket II5 having a horizontally extending plate I I8, see Figs. 7 and 8 having a slot I I9 in which slidingly fits the corresponding screw or cam por-, tion 2I9 at the upper end'of the head connecting rod 56. The connecting rod 56 and the other connecting rods 52 and 54 are made of sheet metal and the cam portion 2I9 can be formed by twisting the sheet metal about 120 degrees to the left as shown in Fig. '7. The plate II8 thus is caused to rotate, to thereby rotate shaft H3 and the'head 5, as the connecting rod 56 reciprocates under action of the cam 23. The plate IIO oscillates, that is, turns in first one direction then the other and is supported between spaced horizontal bearings I20 and I2I cast integral with the base 40. The bearings I20 and ,IZI have-apertures I22 and I23 to loosely guide the cam 2I9 for vertical movement. As shown in Fig. 3, the socket H5 is connected to shaft II3 by a screw I50 to permit adjustment of the turning movement of the head 5 so that it can be adjusted to look straight forward when in drinking position.

The head 5 is positively tilted both down and up by the cam 23, that is to say, the head is not permitted to drop by gravity, as it would drop too fast in an unnatural manner. For this purpose, the connecting rod 56 has a downwardly extending follower portion I30 which is acted on by the cam 23 to tilt the head 5 down and the connecting rod 56 has a diametrically opposite and upwardly extending follower portion I3I which is acted on by cam 23 to tilt the head 5 back. The weight of the head 5 is prevented from actuating the connecting rod 56, as it is provided with a friction drag in the form of a U-shaped metal strip I34, see Fig. 12, which is carried by the spacing lugs M and 42 and which embraces and clamps the cam follower 130 under action of an adjustable screw I35.

When the head 5 is looking straight ahead, the plate II8 is intermediate the length of the cam twist 2I9 so that the head 5 is turned to the right or to the left as the cam twist 2I9 is lowered or raised respectively by the cam 23. After the liquid has run out of glass I3 to simulate completion of the drinking, slack I46 is restored in the chain I46 and rotation of shaft II3 causes the head 5 to tilt up and down due to a cam follower !06 riding in the cam groove I01.

An advertising sign I60 is slidably mounted in a slot I6I in the table 3. The sign I60 is raised and lowered by one end of a lever I62 pivotally supported as indicated at I63 on a bracket I64.

The inner end I65 of the lever I62, see Fig. 11, is actuated by and extends underneath the outer end I66 of a lever I61 pivotaly supported on the base 40 as indicated at I68 and having an inner cam follower end I69 actuated by the cam projection69 on the right arm cam 2 I. When cam follower I69 is raised the lever I66 moves the lever I65 down to raise the sign I60. After cam projection 69 has moved beyond the follower I69, the sign I60 drops by gravity.

The extent and relative movements of operation of the arms 9 and I I can be adjusted by adjusting the length ofthe chains I42 and I44 as caught by their respective hooks, and by adjusting the position of the socket II5 on the shaft II3. As illustrated, and in the preferred form, the parts perform the following operation. As the cam assembly 20 rotates about one-quarter turn, the leftarm II is raised and holds in partially elevated position, the head 5 turns to the left and the right arm 0 sets the bottle I5 down upright.

For the next quarter revolution the head 5 turns to the front and tilts back while the left arm, II raises more to the drinking position and then the head tilts. forward and the left arm starts to' lower.

For the third quarter turn, the head 5 turns to the right, the left hand I2 sets the glass I3 down on the table 3,'and the advertising sign I60 is raised.

For the fourth quarter turn the head turns and lowers to the front, the right arm 9 raises and turns the bottle I5 and pours the liquid into glass I3 and turns the bottle I5 half back, and sign #60 drops, to complete the cycle.

.Various'modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the following claims. For example; the mechanism illustrated herein may be applied to some other type of figure. q Forexample, instead of the figure representing a human being, it could very well represent an animal such as an elephant or otherwise and in that case the movement which is here illustrated as applied to the arms, would in that case be applied to the forelegs of the animal. Also the hands I2 and I 4 may be molded to form holders for the glass and bottle which are removable and suitably cemented or fastened in the hands.

We claim:

1. An automaton comprising a hollow body having an upper arm integral therewith, a forearm therefor, means supporting said forearm for pivotal movement about an axis extending crosswise through said body, a hand and wrist portion at the outer end of said forearm, a shaft supporting said hand and wrist portion for oscillation about an axis lengthwise of said forearm, said shaft extending at its inner end into said body and having a gear fixed thereon, a cooperating rack fixed to said body, and means for operating said forearm about said first axis to raise and lower said forearm and thereby operate said gear to turn said hand and wrist portion.

2. An automaton according to claim 1 where in said shaft comprises a conduit having an outer end at the hand of said hand and wrist portion, said body having another movable arm having a cooperating conduit, and means for operating said other movable arm.

3. An automaton having a component part having a. rocking shaft, 9. motor and gear train unit having a horizontal slow speed shaft, a vertical base spaced from and adjacent said motor and gear train unit, a cam on said slow speed estate shaft, said camhavihg alaterally and forwardly extending face, a reciprocating follower therefor havinga cooperating upwardly extend ing face, said component-'part'acting to urge said cam follower upwardly, a flexible link connecting said rocking shaft and said cam folower, a vertical slot in said cam follower, a guide laterally extending from said base through said slot, said cam having a cam portion of varying radius serving as a variable obstruction for said cam follower to control the upward movement of said cam follower by said, component part.

4; An automaton having a head having a neck, a cooperating body in which saidneck rotatably fits, a Vertical shaft having a horizontal pivotal connection with said head for turning said head and permitting tilting thereof, a cam and cooperating cam follower, one thereof being fixed to said neck and the other thereof being fixed to said body, said can having a cam surface of varying height concentric with said shaft, said cam follower co-acting with said cam surface to raise and lower said head when said shaft is turned, and means for turning said shaft.

5. An automaton having a head having a neck, a cooperating body in which said neck rotatably fits, a rocking bar fixed to said neck, said bar extending from the back towards the front of said neck and having a downwardly facing convex portion and having a central downwardly facing 4 with said cam surfacegsaid base having a sur-" face supporting said bar-for rocking movement.

6. An automaton according to claim 5 comprising independent means connected to the rear of said bar for operating said head about said pive otal connection.

.7. .automatonco nprisinga headhaving a camfixed thereto, said cam having a cooperating upwardly faci'ng'ca'm surface, a shaft for rotating said head, and means for operating said shaft to cause said head to nod under action of said cam and cam follower.

8. An automaton comprising a head having a vertical shaft, means supporting said shaftfor rocking movement on a vertical axis, a motor and gear train unit having a horizontal slow speed shaft, a cam on said slow speed shaft, a rectilinear reciprocating cam follower therefor, a screw portion'on said cam follower, said vertical shaft having ,a l'aterally extending plate having a slot in which said screw portion slideably fits, and a bearing in said base rotatably supporting said plate.

.9. An automaton according to claim 8, said cam follower having opposed operating portions at opposite sides of said cam, said head tending to operate said cam follower, and a friction drag on said cam follower preventing said head from operating said follower except under control of said cam.

AXEL IVAR NELSON. LE ROY W. WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

